Sustainable Travel & Tourism Africa

🎄Happy Holidays🎄 As we wrap up an incredible year, we would like to let you know that our office will be closed until 6th January 2025. During this time, our team will take a short break to celebrate the holidays, reflect on our achievements, and prepare for the exciting opportunities ahead in 2025 We are deeply grateful for your continued support and collaboration this year. Wishing you and your loved ones a joyful holiday season and a New Year filled with success, sustainability, and impact! Here’s to making 2025 even more remarkable together! #HappyHolidays

Registration for STAS 2025 is Now Open—Join Us in Celebrating 10 Years of Impact! We are excited to announce that registration for the 10th Sustainable Tourism Africa Summit (STAS) 2025 is officially open! In 2025, we mark a decade of driving sustainable tourism transformation in Africa, and we want YOU to be part of this special milestone. 🗓 Event Date: 8th & 9th May 2025 📍 Location: South Coast, Kenya For 10 years, STAS has been at the forefront of boosting collaborations and innovations in Africa's tourism. The 2025 summit will continue this legacy with an exciting lineup of: ✅ Inspirational keynotes from global sustainability leaders. ✅ Thought-provoking panel discussions on the future of sustainable tourism. ✅ Hands-on workshops and solution-focused sessions for MSMEs. ✅ Networking with changemakers, innovators, and policymakers. ✅ A special 10th Anniversary Celebration to honor our collective journey. We are offering limited-time discounts for early registrants. Let’s commemorate 10 years of impact and shape the next chapter of sustainable tourism together. 📲 Register Now: https://lnkd.in/g2uzdzYP #STAS2025 #SustainableTourism #10YearsOfImpact #ClimateAction #TourismLeadership #Collaboration

Our 2024 Annual Report is Here! As we reflect on an impactful year, we are excited to share the highlights of our work at Sustainable Travel & Tourism Africa. This report captures our journey in 2024 to transform tourism across Africa by empowering MSMEs, mentoring youth, and championing sustainability. Inside the Report: ✅ Milestones from our Climate Program - Championing resilience and #climateaction across the tourism sector. ✅ Stories of Transformation - Highlights from the Young Change Makers Program, empowering future sustainability leaders. ✅ Collaborative Achievements - Outcomes from strategic knowledge-sharing spaces that are driving sustainable practices in Africa's tourism ✅ Celebrating Partnerships - Strengthening alliances to build a thriving and sustainable tourism industry. ✅ Sustainability Assessments - Successfully conducted across five countries, deepening our impact. ✅ Championing Community and Indigenous-Led Tourism - Sharing insights from the New Zealand Experience. ✅ The Go Blue Project - Supporting the Tourism, Culture, and Heritage component in coastal tourism. ✅ Elevating Education - Expanding our guest lecture series to include PhD student lectures. ✅ STAS 2025 Announcement - Save the dates for the 10th Anniversary of the Sustainable Tourism Africa Summit, celebrating a decade of sustainability dialogues! This report is more than a reflection; it is a celebration of collective action and innovation reshaping Africa's tourism for a sustainable future. 📥 Download the report here: https://lnkd.in/dehcrgaw #SustainabilityInTourism #ClimateAction #sttachangemakers #TourismInnovation #ResponsibleTourism #CommunityTourism #GoBlueProject #STAS2025 #SustainableDevelopment #TourismResilience #ClimateLeadership #AfricaTourism

This is a gratitude and reflective post. 2025 is promising. I must admit that this year has been amazing in many fronts. I didn't get to post here as much but i have many great memories. My highlight of the year was speaking at the 2024 Maori Tourism Conference in NZ/meeting Maori people and learning about their culture and challenges of integration. Other highlights included co-hosting 10 webinars with inspiring women, launching of a climate action planning toolkit for MSMEs, leading in authorship of the Report on Sustainable Tourism in Western Indian Ocean States supported by Blue Tourism Initiative and partners, hosting Prof. Marina Novelli through the Leverhulme fellowship and leading 23 sustainable tourism assessments in 5 countries. There were many other inspiring moments like stas2024, continued mentorship of MSMEs in blue tourism and youth in young change makers program and several speaking engagements. All these are captured in our annual report. The image below is my favourite page from our annual impact report which will be available from this Friday. In this picture are the wonderful, brilliant, courageous women I hosted in our monthly webinar series. The idea of the series was actualized when Prof. Marina Novelli was visiting early in year. She was my first guest/ co-host and the rest is as documented. Much appreciation to everyone who inspired, supported, encouraged, engaged, collaborated, stayed on and mentioned our names in places where would never have reached with the best communication strategies. You are angels. Thank you Stellamaris Miriti Harriet Owalla Aisha Nabwanika Esther Muthee Sharon R. @mwanasa Ahmed Elisa Spampinato Charlotte Beauvoisin Marta Soligo Sisco Auala, PhD Doreen Nyamweya Sustainable Travel & Tourism Africa

Happy teams celebrate all milestones Happiest birthday Dominic Wanjiru . We are blessed to have you as a team member. We have seen you make your baby steps in sustainable tourism, rise to become cohort 2 of rising stars in sustainable tourism under our young change makers program, join us as an intern and later become program lead for climate change. Many milestones indeed. We delight in your journey and can't wait to celebrate the next milestones with you. RISE AND ROAR. Happy birthday From Judy Kepher-Gona and the rest of the team

This past Saturday, the #sttachangemakers proudly represented Sustainable Travel & Tourism Africa at the annual #ForestChallenge2024, hosted by the East African Wild Life Society at Kereita Forest, Kiambu County. Competing under the squad name "SKUA", an aggressive bird, our four-member team braved rainy weather, rugged terrain, and 10 challenging obstacles to support the critical cause of restoring and regenerating key water towers such as the Aberdares and Mau. Their determination embodied the spirit of #GenerationRestoration! As part of an ongoing commitment to practicing sustainability, the team also championed the #STTABringYourOwnBottle campaign, encouraging the use of reusable water bottles to reduce single-use plastics in tourism destinations. For three consecutive years, we have sponsored the event and #sttachangemakers to participate in this inspiring event. It aligns with our regeneration goals to inspire young people to recognize the importance of restoring degraded ecosystems which are essential for a thriving tourism industry and beyond. Read more about the Young Change Makers program: https://lnkd.in/d28qQYPj #GenerationRestoration #sttachangemakers #sustainability #regeneration #youngleaders #restoration #ecosytems #forestchallenge2024

Over the past eight years, our #sttachangemakers program has nurtured some of the most agile, innovative, and passionate young leaders in #sustainabletourism today. These trailblazers are transforming the industry, redefining how we optimize tourism for the future. On track to surpass our goal of reaching 10,000 students by 2030, the program empowers young critical thinkers with the #sustainability knowledge and skills they need to tackle the challenges facing Africa's tourism and conservation sectors. Mutahi Kagwe, a rising star from Cohort 6 (2024), shares his inspiring journey: "I was introduced to the Young Change Maker (YCM) program in my first year, and it has been a transformative experience. Initially, I struggled to understand what sustainability is, but YCM has not only deepened my understanding of sustainability but also equipped me with valuable skills in essay writing and conducting product reviews." With stories like Mutahi's, we are reminded of the program’s impact and the pride we feel as we celebrate these successes. Join us for #STTAWebinarSeries #11 as we welcome an incredible lineup of young sustainability leaders, all whom have gone through the program and been recognized as #sttarisingstars in the different cohorts as our guest co-hosts. They are Esther Muthee (Cohort 4), Doreen Nyamweya (Cohort 2), and Sharon R. (Cohort 3). Together with our host, Dominic Wanjiru (Cohort 2), they’ll share inspiring stories of how the Young Change Makers Program has shaped their career paths and empowered them to lead impactful sustainability initiatives in their workplaces. Don’t miss this opportunity to engage and learn how young people are leading the change! 📅 Date: 3rd December 2024 🕒 Time: 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm EAT 🔗 Register here: https://lnkd.in/deRpp5gK #sttachangemakers #sttawebinarseries #sustainability #sustainabletourism #Sustainabilityleaders #tourism #Sustainabilitywebinar #Regenerativetourism #SDGs #Fellowship #youngleaders

It's 'Tourism Day' at #COP29Azerbaijan where a Declaration on Enhanced Climate Action in Tourism will be made. It acknowledges the vulnerability of tourism to #climatechange & seeks its consideration in national climate policy documents. Read Declaration👉 shorturl.at/jSKBV

Just one day to go! Africa is actively exploring south to south collaboration to grow tourism and build resilience in the sector. I am in Uganda for the 3rd Uganda-Kenya Coast Tourism Conference to give a key note on driving inclusion, job creation and sustainability through south to south collaboration. I am deeply honoured by this invitation. The Uganda Kenya Coast Tourusm collaboration is such a unique regional model for south to south co-operation. Over the last 14 days, tourism leaders, hotel manager's, tour operators, influencers, marketers, media and policy makers from Kenya's coast have been in Uganda on familiarisation tours to appreciate the experiences Uganda has to offer. The objective is to identify opportunities for growing visitation between the two countries and explore new marketing strategies to promote Kenyas coast product to Ugandans and vice versa. The culmination of on-going fam trip is a two day conference of more than 300 delegates exchanging knowledge and crafting business partnerships to grow regional tourism. This conference will be followed by a group from Uganda exploring Kenya's coastal region, covering the 6 counties, again culminating in a knowkedge sharing and deal making conference. This collaboration, conceptualised by Uganda Consulate in Mombasa, has been taking place since 2022 and the growth and participation of industry in both countries has grown exponentially. It is a good case if how foreign missions can support destination marketing and economic collaboration The potential for growing tourism through south to south collaboration has again been reaffirmed by this program and tomorrow and next days, we will focus on removing barriers and optimising the economic, and socio-cultural benefits for nations, businesses and citizens of the two nations m, while protecting biodiversity that supports tourism. Africa's tourism can bring value to current and future generations by creating decent jobs, building skills regionally, enabling people and labour movement across the region, harmonisation and through promoting responsible tourism values, and accountability by all. There will be many posts on this event, look out for insights Sustainable Travel & Tourism Africa

🌎🏨🌱 A new era for #climateaction in #hospitality: launch of Universal Sustainability KPIs at COP29 Azerbaijan! Today, we have taken a major step toward a #sustainable, harmonised, #NetPositive future. In a historic session with #TourismMinisters and the #COPPresidency, the Alliance introduced its Universal Sustainability #KPIs, as part of the #COP29 Declaration on Enhanced Climate Action in #Tourism. These new KPIs represent a game-changing framework for measuring and reporting on essential #ESGmetrics across the #hospitalityindustry. 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐀𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐚𝐥 𝐊𝐏𝐈𝐬?  The first wave of these KPIs covers essential #Environmentalmetrics that can be easily reported and verified. They include: 🏭 #GHGEmissions: Total #CO2 equivalent #emissions across Scope 1, 2, and 3 💧 #WaterConsumption: #Water intensity, measured in litres 💡 #EnergyUsage: Total #energy consumed (MWh), alongside #renewableenergy use ♻ #WasteManagement: Percentage of #waste diverted from landfills 𝐁𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐬, 𝐂𝐨𝐫𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐎𝐓𝐀𝐬: 👪 #Consumers: By accessing standardised #sustainabilitymetrics, consumers can make informed choices and choose accommodations aligned with their values. Transparency and third-party verification build trust in #sustainability claims, and as #hotels improve, consumers benefit from better services. 👩🏾💼👨🏼💼 #CorporateTravelers: Businesses can easily identify accommodations that meet their #sustainabilitycriteria, helping them align with #corporatetravelpolicies. #Transparentreporting enables accurate #environmentalimpact assessments, while sustainable practices often lead to cost savings. ✈ Online travel agencies: #OTAs can highlight sustainable properties, improving listings and attracting eco-conscious travellers. With filters for sustainability ratings and data-driven insights, OTAs will be able to better meet market trends. This initiative is not just about reducing #carbonfootprints - it’s about #economicsustainability and driving #responsibletourism. With the support of key partners - UN Tourism, the World Resources Institute, and Travalyst - the Alliance sets the stage for a future where sustainable practices are a fundamental part of every hospitality business. Alliance #CEO, Glenn Mandziuk, said: "𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘢𝘶𝘯𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘜𝘯𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘢𝘭 𝘒𝘗𝘐𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘦𝘮𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵 𝘤𝘭𝘪𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘴𝘰 𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘴 𝘸𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘶𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘭𝘺 𝘥𝘦𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘺." Discover further benefits and usability: https://lnkd.in/e56iXMDN #UnifiedMetrics #SustainabilityMetrics #HarmonisingSustainability #SustainabilityReporting #SustainableTourism #SustainableHospitality